The Herpetological Journal

pp.69-73

Authors: Susan G. Brown And Susan Murphy-walker

Abstract: A rare male phenotype of the unisexual gecko, Lepidodactylus lugubris, was captured on the University of Hawaii, Hilo campus. The male was housed with females in different stages of their reproductive cycles. Observations were made of interactions between the male and individual females. The male approached females with either no evidence of egg development or small, probably ovarian, eggs more often than females with larger, probably oviductal, eggs; and was observed neck-biting and moving on top of females although no intromissions or copulations were observed. Female geckos were more aggressive than the male; the male was less likely to approach females that reacted to his approaches aggressively. Although it seemed that the male was attempting to court the female geckos, we do not know if courtship attempts failed because of the male or female behaviour. Sperm were present in the testes and epididymis. However, all motile sperm appeared to be headless, suggesting that the male was infertile